Top 10 places to retire

Fancy a house by the sea with a boat for lazy summer days, or a historic
cottage in town with a tea shop to pop into? The choice is yours. Selling up
the family home and finding a place to retire to should be easier now that
the property market is picking up again. The South West of England is still
the most popular retirement destination, according to research by
Prudential, with Dorset’s Christchurch in the top spot. “Many are freeing up
funds to boost their income or reduce their living costs by downsizing or
moving to where property prices are lower,” says Vince Smith-Hughes,
Prudential’s retirement expert. We went house-hunting in his top 10
hot spots.

1. CHRISTCHURCH, Dorset

29.7 per cent retired

No wonder it is the nation’s favourite, nuzzling up to Bournemouth on the
dramatic Dorset coast where the Rivers Avon and Stour flow into the sea. The
town curls round the harbour, full of boats and ducks, and is loved by
tourists in the summer. There is a wine and food festival in May, music
festival in July, regatta in August. Old cottages, coffee shops and
specialist shops make it fun for pottering.

For Sale: Three-bedroom mews house with a mooring and garage, £725,000,
Denisons (01202 484748).